Chapter 4

Early the next morning, as soon as I walked through the club's back door, Declan's right-hand man Enzo walked up to me.

"Katerina," his expression was a bit awkward, his eyes darting away. "I have to tell you something."

He pulled a crumpled paper from the inside of his jacket.

"The Boss wants you demoted." He didn't dare look me in the eye. "From now on, you will collect protection money at the corner dive bars. Where you end up next will depend on your performance this month."

"Collecting loose change on the street?" I let out a laugh. "You mean total exile with no way back."

Enzo's face turned bright red. "Katerina, you know I didn't want to pass this message, but this is a direct order from the Boss."

"I know." I cut him off. "Then who gets those core smuggling routes and the high-roller lists now?"

"Roxy." Enzo said quickly. "She's been officially promoted by the Boss to club manager and his second-in-command. All dealings with the big families go to her. You have to hand over whatever you have left to her."

Club manager and second-in-command.

It seemed Declan gave her more than just my office. He gave her the power to boss the whole crew around.

When I walked back into the office that used to belong to me, I almost didn't recognize it.

The antique hunting rifle on the wall was replaced by a cheap painting of a naked woman.

The dark furniture I had picked out was all thrown away. It was replaced by a bunch of flashy, gold-rimmed decor.

The whole space looked like a cheap brothel for rich wannabes.

Roxy sat in the large boss's chair in a red silk dress, flipping through the black code book I left behind.

"You're here?" She didn't even look up. "Sit."

I sat down in the chair across from her. This little act of hers was quite entertaining.

"I need you to give me the rundown on how to deal with these top bosses." Roxy opened a page of the book and said. "Especially this one, Don Salvatore. Tell me what he actually likes."

Don Salvatore. Hearing that name, I smiled to myself.

Exactly what I wanted.

"Salvatore is the biggest fish you can catch on this street." I nodded.

"He loves the traditional Sicilian style. He only talks big business at that exclusive private club run by Sicilians on the west side of town."

Roxy's eyes lit up. She hurried to copy this information word for word into her notepad.

I was telling the absolute truth. Salvatore really only met guests there.

I just didn't tell her that Don Salvatore was my own uncle. The only reason he was willing to give this street crew a chance was purely out of respect for me.

And of course, I didn't tell her the truth about that Sicilian private club. From the second floor down to the third hidden basement, it was entirely owned by my family.

Roxy closed her book, looking completely determined to win. "Perfect. This deal is in the bag."

"Seeing as you actually understand the rules today," she looked up and gave me a patronizing smile. "I'm in a good mood. Maybe I'll put in a good word for you with the Boss later."

I couldn't be bothered with her childish gloating. I went straight downstairs and drove to that Sicilian private club.

Marco, the head of security at the club, saw me and quickly walked up. He placed his right hand over his heart and bowed slightly. "Principessa, what are your orders for today?"

"Marco, help me change a rule." I got straight to the point. "Starting today, unless I'm here in person, anyone who drops my name is not allowed in. Anyone."

Marco nodded. "Understood. I'll inform the boys at the door and on the lower levels right now."

"Also," I added. "If anyone from that little crew tries to sneak in using another name, disarm them and throw them out."

"Yes, Principessa. Don't worry. We will execute it down to the letter."

After handling things here, I stood on the curb outside the club waiting for my driver.

The late autumn wind was a little cold. Sycamore leaves drifted down and landed on the shoulders of my leather jacket.

Occasionally, men in trench coats walked quickly down the street. No one dared to take a second look at this club.

Right then, a black sports car whipped around the corner and slammed on the brakes next to me.

I recognized it as Declan's sports car, the one bought with my money.

The passenger window rolled down, revealing Roxy's face.

She had changed into a brand-new mink coat and was touching up her lipstick in the vanity mirror.

From the driver's seat, Declan smiled past her at me. His expression was dark and hard to read.

"Oh my, if it isn't Katerina!" Roxy purposely leaned out and raised her voice. "What are you doing standing on a dirty corner like this? Working the corner?"

Declan played along with a dry laugh. "Roxy, don't make jokes like that. Katerina is probably just getting familiar with her future work environment."

"We're just heading out to celebrate." Roxy reached out, purposely flashing her new Cartier watch in my face. "Tomorrow Salvatore is going to sign a contract with me. A twenty-million-dollar deal! Underground casinos plus high-end smuggled booze. The whole block is going to be ours."

"Right," just a second before the window rolled up, Roxy stuck her head out again. "Don't forget to get that half-million dollars together in three days! Otherwise, we'll just take it from your corpse!"

The sports car roared, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust. It sped away, splashing up a puddle of dirty mud.

I watched the car disappear around the corner, my eyes growing colder by the inch.